Region briefs 10/15/04

Cape resident guilty of cocaine distribution

Cape Girardeau resident Yolandis Patterson, 30, was found guilty of two felony counts of distribution of cocaine Wednesday following a day-long jury trial in federal court. The jury deliberated for 30 minutes before returning a guilty verdict. On Sept. 5, 2003, Patterson sold 4.1 grams of cocaine to an undercover police officer and on Sept. 25, Patterson sold 1.4 grams of cocaine to the same officer. Patterson, who has prior state convictions for possession and sale of cocaine, faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a two million dollar fine. Sentencing is set for Jan. 11.

Lewis and Clark chapter looking for members

At 3 p.m. Sunday, a meeting will be held at the Red House Interpretive Center, 128 S. Main St., to see how many people are interested in the formation of a Lewis and Clark trail chapter for Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. The Red House Interpretive Center Board was approached by a member of the National Lewis and Clark Trail Foundation about forming a George Drouillard chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail. Drouillard was the main hunter on the exhibition and the nephew of Cape Girar-deau's founder Louis Lorimer. Members would meet four times a year to work on keeping the legacy of Lewis and Clark alive. For more information, contact Jane Randol Jackson at (573) 204-2331 or 651-0028.

-- From staff reports